Information display device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an information display device including an imaging unit that executes an imaging process to image a subject to output an imaging signal; a monitor capable of displaying an image of the subject based on the imaging signal; a switching part located near the monitor; a first display controller for displaying, in a menu on the monitor, each of a first group of items consisting of a plurality of items associated with the imaging process, whereby first setting data can be set; and a second display controller for displaying, in a menu on the monitor, each of a second group of items associated with a plurality of particular items in the first group and having fewer items than the first group, whereby second setting data can be set, wherein switching between the first and second display controllers is performed by operating the switching part.

The priority applications Number 2007-207285, 2007-223303, and2007-232274, upon which this patent application is based, are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to information display devices with animage display function, such as electronic cameras such as digitalcameras, for example, and particularly to information display devices inwhich the menu display of various items of control information iscontrolled.

2. Description of Related Art

In order to set a conventional electronic camera to desired recordingconditions (resolution, AE value, ISO, etc.), a user displays arecording conditioning menu on a monitor disposed in the camera, andselects a desired item from the displayed items. In order to set desiredplayback conditions, the user displays a playback conditioning menu onthe monitor, and selects a desired item from the displayed items.

In recent years, there have been increased recording conditions andplayback conditions that users can select and set. However, because thenumber of items that can be displayed on the monitor is limited, theitems are often displayed on the screen in a hierarchical structure.Users select a desired item by performing a selection operation severaltimes, and set recording conditions and playback conditions inaccordance with the selected menu item. In setting recording conditionswith such menus of hierarchical structure, it is possible to displayhigher hierarchies of the recording setting menu items in a horizontaldirection, and display sub-hierarchies in a vertical direction.

However, even such a menu display may require relatively many times ofselection operation to select a desired item. In addition, great manyitems are displayed. Accordingly, it takes time for the user to select adesired item. A user not used to the operation would feel very stressfulbecause of the complicatedness. In the case where a skilled userperforms a recording operation, setting his or her preference from amongmany items is not particularly stress if he or she is not in a hurry,but the selection operation can be very troublesome if the user wants toselect recording conditions and perform recording immediately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an information displaydevice that a user can more easily set to recording conditions orplayback conditions in conformity with the use condition.

The present invention provides an information display device includingan imaging unit that executes an imaging process to image a subject tooutput an imaging signal; a monitor capable of displaying an image ofthe subject based on the imaging signal; a switching part located nearthe monitor; a first display controller for displaying, in a menu on themonitor, each of a first group of items consisting of a plurality ofitems associated with the imaging process, whereby first setting datacan be set; and a second display controller for displaying, in a menu onthe monitor, each of a second group of items associated with a pluralityof particular items in the first group and having fewer items than thefirst group, whereby second setting data can be set, wherein switchingbetween the first and second display controllers is performed byoperating the switching part.

With this information display device of the present invention, the menudisplay on the monitor is switched between the first group of items andthe second group of items. The user can thus more easily set recordingconditions in conformity with the use condition. In addition, since theswitching part is located near the monitor, the user can extremelyeasily switch the screen to the menu most suitable for the situationwhile viewing the display screen on the monitor.

In a specific configuration, the monitor and switching part are arrangedon a finder unit provided to the device so as to be displaced between aclosed position and an open position. When the finder unit is in theclosed position, the monitor and switching part are not exposed. Whenthe finder unit is in the open position, the monitor and switching partare exposed.

With this specific configuration, since the monitor and switching partare arranged on a finder unit provided to the device so as to bedisplaced between a closed position and an open position, switching ispossible with the finder unit being in the open position. The user cantherefore operate the switching part in conformity with the usage whileviewing the through-the-lens image being captured. This allows easiersetting of recording conditions without complicated operations. Sincethe switching part is only used in menu display on the monitor, and doesnot need to be operated when the monitor is not used, the switchingpart, as well as the monitor, is not exposed when the finder unit ispositioned in the closed position, preventing the user from operatingthe switching part unnecessarily.

The present invention provides another information display deviceincluding a playback unit that executes a playback process to play backdata recorded on a recording medium to output it as playback data; amonitor capable of displaying a playback image based on the playbackdata; a switching part located near the monitor; a first displaycontroller for displaying, in a menu on the monitor, each of a firstgroup of items consisting of a plurality of items associated with theplayback process, whereby first setting data can be set; and a seconddisplay controller for displaying, in a menu on the monitor, each of asecond group of items associated with a plurality of particular items inthe first group and having fewer items than the first group, wherebysecond setting data can be set, wherein switching between the first andsecond display controllers is performed by operating the switching part.

With this information display device of the present invention, the menudisplay on the monitor is switched between the first group of items andthe second group of items. The user can thus more easily set playbackconditions in conformity with the use condition. In addition, since theswitching part is located near the monitor, the user can extremelyeasily switch the screen to the menu most suitable for the situationwhile viewing the display screen on the monitor.

In a specific configuration, the monitor and switching part are arrangedon a movable unit provided to the device so as to be displaced between aclosed position and an open position. When the movable unit is in theclosed position, the monitor and switching part are not exposed. Whenthe movable unit is in the open position, the monitor and switching partare exposed.

Accordingly, since the monitor and switching part are arranged on amovable unit provided to the device so as to be displaced between aclosed position and an open position, switching is possible with themovable unit being in the open position. The user can therefore operatethe switching part in conformity with the usage while viewing thethrough-the-lens image being captured. This allows easier setting ofrecording conditions without complicated operations. Since the switchingpart is only used in menu display on the monitor, and does not need tobe operated when the monitor is not used, the switching part, as well asthe monitor, is not exposed when the movable unit is positioned in theclosed position, preventing the user from operating the switching partunnecessarily.

The present invention provides still another information display deviceincluding a menu switcher for switching between a first menu mode inwhich a first group of items is displayed in a menu on a monitor, andone of certain first candidates of data can be selected as first controldata for each of the items, and a second menu mode in which a secondgroup consisting of fewer items than the first group is displayed in amenu on the monitor, and one of certain second candidates of data can beselected as second control data for each of the items; and a controllerfor controlling the operation of the device on the basis of the firstcontrol data or second control data, wherein the second group of itemsincludes an item having a second candidate of data that is a combinationof first candidates of data for a plurality of particular items of thefirst group.

With this information display device of the present invention, in thesecond menu mode, which is simpler than the first menu mode, whichprovides a detailed menu display, certain candidates of data associatedwith a plurality of items of the first menu mode are combined anddisplayed in a single item of the second menu mode. The number of itemsfor setting the control data can thus be substantially maintained asmany as possible even though the menu display is simplified.

In a specific construction, the information display device includes animager for taking a still image of a subject in response to imaginginstructions in a still image taking mode, and for taking a moving imageof a subject in response to imaging instructions in a moving imagetaking mode, wherein the first group of items includes a group of movingimage items associated with recording conditions for the moving imageand a group of still image items associated with recording conditionsfor the still image, wherein the second candidate of data is the datathat is a combination of each first candidate of data selected from thegroup of moving image items and from the group of still image items.

Since the second candidate of data is the data made from the group ofmoving image items and the group of still image items, there is no needto prepare two kinds of items for moving image recording and still imagerecording. This reduces selection items and allows recording conditionsto be extremely easily set by selecting one of the second candidates ofdata.

In a further specific configuration of this information display device,the plurality of particular items include an item associated with theresolution included in the group of moving image items and an itemassociated with the aspect ratio included in the group of still imageitems.

Since the second candidate of data is the data that is a combination ofthe item associated with the resolution included in the group of movingimage items and the item associated with the aspect ratio included inthe group of still image items, in setting conditions in recording amoving image or still image, recording conditions corresponding to eachplayback requirement and preferable for the user can be set easily andquickly.

As described above, with the information display device of the presentinvention, recording conditions can be more easily set in conformitywith the use condition. In addition, the user can certainly realize themost suitable menu switching while viewing the display screen.

In the information display device including the above-described specificfeatures, since the monitor and switching part are disposed on thefinder unit or movable unit, when the monitor is not used and notexposed, the switching part is not exposed either, preventingunnecessary operations of the switching part.

When the switching is performed from the menu display with many items tothe menu display with fewer items, although the number of itemsdisplayed in a menu is reduced, more items than those of the displayedmode can be maintained for setting control data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 includes perspective views showing appearances of an electroniccamera that is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 includes perspective views showing other appearances of theelectronic camera that is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the electroniccamera that is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows playback normal menu displays of the electronic camera thatis an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows recording simple menu displays of the electronic camerathat is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows playback simple menu displays of the electronic camera thatis an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the electroniccamera that is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation of theelectronic camera that is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows recording normal menu displays of the electronic camerathat is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows transitions in the recording normal menu of the electroniccamera that is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation of theelectronic camera that is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation of theelectronic camera that is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the electroniccamera that is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation of theelectronic camera that is an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation of theelectronic camera that is an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation of theelectronic camera that is an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this embodiment, an electronic camera 10 is described as an exampleof the information display device. Appearances of the electronic camera10 are shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIGS. 1( a)-(c) are perspective viewsshowing the front of the electronic camera 10, and FIGS. 2( a) and (b)are perspective views showing the rear of the electronic camera 10.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the electronic camera 10 includes animaging unit 14 including at least a lens 2, a finder unit 4 including amonitor 4 a and a menu change-over switch 12, a hinge part 6, operationbuttons 8 a-8 e, a speaker 50, a microphone 52 and a strobe flash 60.

FIG. 1( a) shows the device with the finder unit 4 being closed onto themain body having the imaging unit 14, so that the monitor 4 a and menuchange-over switch 12 are not exposed. Usually, users do not performimaging operations in such a form. FIG. 1( b) shows the device with themonitor 4 a being located generally perpendicularly to the main body bypivoting the finder unit 4 on the biaxial hinge part 6 in the directionof arrow A, and FIG. 1( c) shows the device with the monitor 4 a beinglocated generally parallel to the lens 2 of the main body by furtherrotating the finder unit 4 on the hinge part 6 in arrow direction B fromthe state of FIG. 1( b).

FIGS. 2( a) and (b) show the rear of FIG. 1( c). The menu change-overswitch 12 is provided near the monitor 4 a so as to be slidable betweenthe upper and lower positions (X, Y). The monitor 4 a displays playbackimages and the through-the-lens image (image being taken), and plays thesame role as a finder for a user. When the menu change-over switch 12 isin the X position (upper position) as shown in FIG. 2( a), the device isin the simple menu mode described below, which makes it easy to set therecording menu and playback menu. When the menu change-over switch 12 isin the Y position (lower position), the device is in the normal menumode described below, which allows normal menu setting operations.

The numerals 8 a-8 e constituting an operation unit 8 are described indetail. The numeral 8 a is a recording/playback change-over switch forswitching the operation mode to either the recording mode or playbackmode. Moving 8 a to the P position (upper position) sets the recordingmode, and moving it to the Q position (lower position) sets the playbackmode. The numeral 8 b is a moving image recording start button forstarting a moving image recording process of the imaging unit 14 bydepressing 8 b. The numeral 8 c is a still image recording button forinstructing a still image recording process. The numeral 8 d is a menubutton, and displays selectable menu setting items on the monitor 4 awhen depressed. The numeral 8 e is a cursor key made so as to beinclined in one of the four, upward, downward, rightward, and leftwarddirections when it is manually operated in the one direction, and toreturn to the original neutral position from the inclined state when themanual operation is released. Operating the key in one of the fourdirections allows selection and indication of an item displayed on themonitor 4 a. The cursor key 8 e is also used as a set key, and depressedwhen in the neutral position to perform a set operation to select anitem and set the selected item.

Next, an operation of the electronic camera is described in more detailusing FIG. 3, which is a block diagram inside the electronic camera 10shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The electronic camera 10 includes an imaginglens 2, a monitor 4 a, an operation unit 8, a menu change-over switch12, an aperture mechanism 14, a CMOS image sensor 16, an imagingprocessing unit 18, an SDRAM 20, a CPU 22, a compression/decompressionprocessing unit 24, a card control unit 26, a memory card 28, a videoencoder 30, a speaker 50, a microphone 52, a voice processing unit 54, aspeaker amp 56, a strobe flash 60 and a strobe circuit 62.

The imaging lens 2 images an optical image of a subject on the imagingarea of the CMOS image sensor 16, which is an image pickup device. Thelocation of the imaging lens 2 in the optical axis directions isadjusted on the basis of output signals of the CMOS image sensor 16. Theaperture mechanism 14 is controlled to thereby regulate the light thatenters the CMOS image sensor 16 from the imaging lens 2. Suchadjustments of the imaging lens 2 and aperture 14 are made by a motordrive unit not illustrated.

Analog imaging signals output from the CMOS image sensor 16 arevariously processed by the imaging processing unit 18 and, as a result,converted to Y signals, which are a luminance signal, and to U and Vsignals, which are a color-difference signal.

The CPU 22 is connected to the operation unit 8, menu change-over switch12, imaging processing unit 18, SDRAM 20, compression/decompressionprocessing unit 24, card control unit 26, video encoder 30, voiceprocessing unit 54, speaker amp 56 and strobe circuit 62. The CPU 22controls the imaging processing unit 18, SDRAM 20,compression/decompression processing unit 24, card control unit 26,video encoder 30, voice processing unit 54, speaker amp 56 and strobecircuit 62 in accordance with a program stored in an internal memory notillustrated.

Next, an operation of the electronic camera 10 performed by operatingthe operation unit 8 is described. As described above, the operationunit 8 includes various buttons or keys 8 a-8 e. When therecording/playback change-over switch 8 a is moved to the P position andin the recording mode, the CPU 22 outputs the through-the-lens imageonto the monitor 4 a. When the moving image recording start button 8 bor still image recording button 8 c is then depressed, the CPU 22performs a moving image recording process or still image recordingprocess. In the case of a shooting operation with the still image button8 c, the strobe flash 60 operates in accordance with the flash mode,which is a shooting condition. The moving image or still image taken arecompressed in the compression/decompression processing unit 24 with theH264 codec for moving images or the JPEG codec for still images. The CPU22 controls the card control unit 26 to thereby record the compressedmoving image data or still image data onto the memory card 28 as amoving image file or a still image file. The SDRAM 20 is used totemporarily store the data when such an imaging process is performed.

When voice recording is set with the operation unit 8, voice is taken infrom the microphone 52, and converted by the voice signal processingunit 54 to digital voice data, which is compressed in thecompression/decompression processing unit 24, and recorded onto thememory card 28 as an audio file.

When the recording/playback change-over switch 8 a is moved to the Qposition and in the playback mode, the CPU 22 plays back a moving imagefile or still image file recorded on the memory card 28 on the monitor 4a. An audio file is also played back and output to the speaker 50.Specifically, a user selects a moving image file, still image file oraudio file recorded on the memory card 28, and then the selected file isdecompressed in the compression/decompression processing unit 24,converted by a D/A converter not illustrated to an analog image signalor analog voice signal, which is formed into an output image signal inthe video encoder 30 or amplified in the speaker amp 56 to generate avoice signal, and displayed on the monitor 4 a or output to the speaker50.

In performing the above-described recording operation and playbackoperation, the user can set desired recording conditions and playbackconditions. Specifically, the user moves the menu change-over switch 12to the X position or Y position, and depresses the menu button 8 d tothereby display a menu screen on the monitor 4 a. The user operates thecursor key 8 e in the four directions in order to set each item to meetdesired recording conditions and playback conditions, and depresses thekey to enter the setting, thereby making various settings.

A menu setting operation is described below in detail with reference toFIG. 9 and FIG. 10. When the user moves the menu change-over switch 12to the Y position and depresses the menu button 8 d while the camera isin the recording mode, the monitor 4 a displays a recording menuselection screen in the normal menu mode shown in FIG. 10. Recordingmenu selection items in the normal menu mode are selection itemsnormally prepared in recent electronic cameras.

Since many items are prepared in the normal menu mode in the recordingmode, it is difficult for the one screen of the monitor 4 a to displayall those items at once. Accordingly, three menu screens (recording menu(1) to recording menu (3)) can be separately displayed, so that the usercan select one of recording menus (1)-(3) by operating the cursor key 8e.

Recording menus (1)-(3) are described below in detail. As shown in FIG.9( a), the screen of recording menu (1) has six menu items prepared:“MOVIE”, “PHOTO”, “SCENE SELECT”, “FILTER”, “FLASH”, and “SELF-TIMER”.In the state of FIG. 9( a), when the cursor key 8 e is depressed forsetting, mode setting in the item of “MOVIE” will be possible.

As shown in FIG. 9( b), there are seven setting modes of the item“MOVIE”: a FULL-HD mode with a resolution of 1920×1080 and a frame rateof 60 fields/sec, an HD-HR mode with a resolution of 1280×720 and aframe rate of 60 frames/sec, an HD-SHQ mode with a resolution of1280×720 and a frame rate of 30 frames/sec, a TV-HR mode with aresolution of 640×480 and a frame rate of 60 frames/sec, a TV-SHQ modewith a resolution of 640×480 and a frame rate of 30 frames/sec, aweb-SHQ mode with a resolution of 320×240 and a frame rate of 30frames/sec, and a voice memo mode for recording only voice. One mode canbe selected from these modes by operating the cursor key 8 e downwardand performing a set operation. It is noted that the web-SHQ mode andvoice memo mode are not displayed in FIG. 9( b). This is because thereare a large number of modes and therefore they cannot be displayed allat once. The web-SHQ mode and voice memo mode can be displayed byoperating the cursor key 8 e downward to scroll the screen. The FULL-HDmode with a resolution of 1920×1080 and the HD-HR mode and HD-SHQ modeof 1280×720 both correspond to so-called high vision images, the screenaspect ratio of which is 16:9. The TV-HR mode and TV-SHQ mode with aresolution of 640×480 both correspond to normal TV images, the screenaspect ratio of which is 4:3. The web-SHQ mode with a resolution of320×240 is a mode prepared for easily creating files in creating a blogon a personal computer.

When the cursor key 8 e is operated downward from the menu display ofFIG. 9( a), where the cursor is in “MOVIE” in the top position, thecursor moves to the item of “PHOTO” as shown in FIG. 9( c). The item“PHOTO” has nine settable modes as shown in FIG. 9( d): an 8M mode inwhich captured still images have an 8 MB file size with a resolution of3264×2448, a 4M-H mode of low compression rate in which the resolutionis 2288×1712 and the file size is 4M, a 4M-S mode in which images arecompressed with a higher compression rate than that of the 4M-H mode andhave the same resolution of 2288×1712 and a file size of 4 MB, a 3.5Mmode in which the resolution is 2496×1408 and the file size is 3.5 MB, a2M mode in which the resolution is 1920×1080 and the file size is 2 MB,a 2M(B) mode in which the resolution is 1600×1200 and the file size is 2MB, a 0.9M mode in which the resolution is 1280×720 and the file size is0.9 MB, a 0.3M mode in which the resolution is 640×480 and the file sizeis 0.3 MB, and a sequential shooting mode. One mode can be selected fromthese modes by operating the cursor key 8 e.

It is noted that the 2M(B) mode, 0.9M mode, 0.3M mode and sequentialshooting mode are not displayed in FIG. 9( d). This is because there area large number of modes and therefore they cannot be displayed all atonce. The 2M(B) mode, 0.9M mode, 0.3M mode and sequential shooting modecan be displayed by operating the cursor key 8 e downward to scroll thescreen. The 3.5M mode and 2M mode have an aspect ratio of 16:9 andcorrespond to high vision. The 4M-S mode, 4M-H mode, and 2M(B) mode havean aspect ratio of approximately 4:3 and correspond to normal TV images.The 0.3M mode maintains an aspect ratio of 4:3, but has a smaller filesize than that of the others, so that the file can be easily used for ablog or the like.

In transitions of each menu in each drawing of the present embodiment,the representation “SET” means a set operation of the cursor key 8 e,“MENU” a depression of the menu button 8 d, ▴ an upward operation of thecursor key 8 e, ▾ a downward operation of the cursor key 8 e, “RIGHTBUTTON” a rightward operation of the cursor key 8 e, and “LEFT BUTTON” aleftward operation of the cursor key 8 e. In order to indicate in whichposition the cursor is in each item or mode, the item or mode in whichthe cursor is positioned is shown by a solid frame surrounding it.

Although not illustrated, “SCENE SELECT” includes a full auto mode,sports mode, portrait mode, night view portrait mode, snow and beachmode, fireworks mode, and lamp mode, from which one mode can beselected. The aperture, shutter speed, strobe, etc. are integrallycontrolled by control data prepared in accordance with each scene.“FILTER” includes a no filter mode, cosmetic mode, monochrome mode, andsepia mode, from which one mode can be selected, so that the specialfilter effect can be obtained. “FLASH” includes an auto mode, a forcedflash mode, and no flash mode, from which one mode can be selected, sothat the flash operation of the strobe flash 60 is controlled inaccordance with the selected mode. “SELF-TIMER” includes an off mode, a2 seconds mode, and 10 seconds mode, from which one mode can beselected, so that the self-timer function is controlled in accordancewith the selected mode.

As shown in FIG. 10( h), six items are prepared for recording menu (2):“MOVIE STABILIZER”, “PHOTO STABILIZER”, “FOCUS”, “FOCUS SYSTEM”, “LIGHTMETERING”, and “ISO”. “MOVIE STABILIZER” includes two modes of an ONmode and OFF mode for turning ON/OFF the camera shake correction formovies. “PHOTO STABILIZER” also includes two modes of an ON mode and OFFmode for turning ON/OFF the camera shake correction for photos. “FOCUS”includes four modes in which the focus range is a total range, normal,manual, and a macro mode. “FOCUS SYSTEM” includes two modes of a 9-pointrange finder focus and spot focus. “LIGHT METERING” includes three modesof a multi-section, center-weighted, and spot modes. “ISO” has eightmodes prepared: Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200. For eachitem, one mode is selected and set from the prepared modes, allowingsetting of desired recording conditions.

As shown in FIG. 10( j), five items are prepared for recording menu (3):“WHITE BALANCE”, “EXPOSURE”, “DIGITAL ZOOM”, “FACE CHASER”, and “HIGHSENSITIVITY”. “WHITE BALANCE” includes six modes of an auto, a fair, acloudy, a fluorescent, an incandescent, and a one push modes. “EXPOSURE”includes four modes of a program, a shutter priority, an aperturepriority, and a manual modes. “DIGITAL ZOOM” includes two modes of an ONand OFF modes. “FACE CHASER”, which is for detecting the subject's faceand controls focusing and exposure for this face, includes two modes ofan ON and OFF modes. “HIGH SENSITIVITY” has two modes prepared, an ONand OFF modes. For each item, one mode is selected and set from theprepared modes, allowing setting of desired recording conditions.

The menu screen of FIG. 10( a) has tags A1 to A3 of each recording menudisplayed on the left side thereof. Under tag A3 of recording menu (3),tags C1 to C3 of option menus (1) to (3) described below are displayed.The option menus are to set various conditions associated with optionfunctions added to recording conditions or playback conditions. Optionmenu (1) includes six items: “CLOCK SET”, “INFO DISPLAY”, “STARTUPDISPLAY”, “OPERATION BEEP”, “POST VIEW”, and “REC FOLDER”. “CLOCK SET”is an item for inputting the date and time. “INFO DISPLAY” is an itemfor determining whether all the parameters are to be displayed on thescreen, or the date and time information is to be displayed. “STARTUPDISPLAY” is an item for determining whether a preset startup display isto be displayed or not. “OPERATION BEEP” is an item for selectingvarious operation sounds from predetermined sounds. “POST VIEW” is anitem for specifying the duration for checking the captured image. “RECFOLDER” is an item for specifying the folder in which the recorded imageis to be stored. Conditions in each item are set with menu display.

Option menu (2) includes six items: “SHORTCUTS”, “NOISE REDUCTION”,“IMAGE SETTINGS”, “FLICKER REDUCT”, “MONITOR BRIGHTNESS”, and “EXTERNALMIKE VOLUME”. “SHORTCUTS” is to set shortcuts to be assigned with thecursor key 8 e. “NOISE REDUCTION” is to set ON or OFF the noisereduction in each of moving images, still images, and voice. “FLICKERREDUCT” is to set ON or OFF the flicker-reduction function. “MONITORBRIGHTNESS” is to set the brightness of the monitor. “EXTERNAL MIKEVOLUME” is an item for setting the volume of the external mike. Inconditioning menus are displayed in one hierarchy or two hierarchies.

Option menu (3) includes six items: “LANGUAGE”, “TV OUTPUT”, “POWERSAVE”, “FILE NO”, “FORMAT”, and “RESET SETTINGS”. “LANGUAGE” is an itemfor selecting the screen language from a plurality of languagesincluding Japanese and English. “TV OUTPUT” is an item for choosingNTSC/PAL or the wide screen or not. “POWER SAVE” is an item forspecifying the elapsed time before the power save is activated at thetime of recording or playback. “FILE NO” is an item for determining fromwhich NO the file NO begins when a card is replaced. “FORMAT” is an itemfor determining whether a simple or full formatting is executed or not.“RESET SETTINGS” is an item for determining whether the parameters arereset to the factory-preset settings.

Next described is how to set a mode of each item associated withrecording in the normal menu mode. As shown in FIG. 9( a), recordingmenu (1) is displayed on the monitor 4 a by operating the menu button 8d with the monitor 4 a displaying the through-the-lens image in therecording mode. When there is an item that the user desires to set orchange in recording menu (1), the user operates the cursor key 8 eupward or downward for a short time. In other words, the user inclinesthe cursor key 8 e upward or downward for a short time and thereafterimmediately returns it to the neutral position (does a short timeoperation). This causes the cursor to move down sequentially by only oneitem in recording menu 1 as shown in FIGS. 9( a), (c), (e), (f), and(g). When this operation is repeated and the cursor reaches the bottomitem of recording menu (1), the cursor moves to the top item of therecording menu. As long as the short push is repeated, the cursor willcirculate through the six items of recording menu TAB 1. For example,when the cursor is in the position of “MOVIE” on recording menu (1) asshown in FIG. 9( a), the cursor moves, each time the downward short timeoperation is performed, to “PHOTO”→“SCENE SELECT”→“FILTER”→“FLASH”“SELF-TIMER”→“MOVIE”→“PHOTO” as shown in FIG. 9( c), (e), (f), and (g),and circulates through the items in recording menu (1). The cursor ismoved to a desired item of recording menu (1) in this way by the shorttime operation. Then depressing the cursor key 8 e sets the item, sothat a plurality of modes prepared in this item are displayed. Movingthe cursor key up or down moves the cursor to a desired mode. Thendepressing the cursor key completes setting of the operation mode of theitem concerned.

For example, when the user wishes to change or set the resolution intaking moving images, the user at first displays recording menu (1) asshown in FIG. 9( a), and then operates the cursor key 8 e to select theitem of “MOVIE”. Then, as shown in FIG. 9( b), a plurality of modesindicating resolutions for moving images are displayed. Next, the useroperates the cursor key 8 e to thereby select an item indicating adesired resolution from the modes indicating a plurality of resolutions,and depresses the set key to thereby determine the resolution. Then, thedetermined resolution is set. In the above description, the cursor ismoved down through each item on the screen by operating the cursor key 8e downward, but the cursor can be moved up through each item on thescreen by operating the cursor key 8 e upward.

Similarly, when the item of “PHOTO” is selected, modes indicatingresolutions for still images are displayed as shown in FIG. 9( d). Theuser selects an item indicating a desired resolution from the modes, anddepresses the set key to complete the mode setting.

When there is not a desired item in recording menu (1) and the userwishes to select the desired item from the other recording menus in thenormal menu mode, the user switches to recording menu (2) or (3) asfollows. With recording menu (1) shown in FIG. 10( a) being displayed,the user operates the cursor key 8 e upward or downward instead of theabove-described short time operation. In other words, the user inclinesthe cursor key 8 e upward or downward and continues to hold it withoutreturning it to the neutral position (does a long time operation). Whilethe user is continuing this long time operation, the cursor sequentiallymoves down by one item through the displayed items of recording menu (1)as shown in FIGS. 10( b) to (g). When the cursor reaches the bottom itemof recording menu (1), i.e. “SELF-TIMER”, the screen moves to recordingmenu (2) as shown in FIG. 10( i), and the cursor moves to “MOVIESTABILIZER”, which is the top item of recording menu (2), and then movesdown from there by one item. When the long time operation is furthercontinued and the cursor reaches the bottom item of recording menu (2),i.e. “ISO”, the cursor moves to “WHITE BALANCE”, which is the top itemof recording menu (3) as shown in FIG. 10( k). When the long push isfurther continued, the cursor moves to “HIGH SENSITIVITY”, the bottom ofrecording menu (3). The user stops the downward operation of the cursorkey 8 e when the cursor reaches a desired item among the items ofrecording menus (1) to (3). In this way, the user can reach a desireditem quickly.

If the long time operation is continued even when the cursor reaches thebottom item of recording menu (3), then the cursor moves to option menu(1) located under recording menu (3). Then the cursor moves from the topitem by one item. After passing through option menu (1), the cursormoves to option menu (2). When the long time operation is furthercontinued, the cursor moves to option menu (3). If the long timeoperation is continued even when the cursor reaches the bottom item ofoption menu (3), then the cursor returns to recording menu (1) andsequentially moves down from “MOVIE”. In FIG. 10, the cursor movementfrom (g) to (b) by the downward operation indicates the short timeoperation, while the long time operation moves the cursor from (g) to(i).

If the user wishes to quickly switch between recording menus (1)-(3),rather than to move the cursor by one item, then the user operates thecursor key 8 e leftward to thereby select tabs A1 to A3. It is possibleto directly select a recording menu by operating the cursor key 8 eupward or downward to thereby select the tab of other recording menus.In this case, after selecting a recording menu by selecting the tab, theuser needs to again select an item with the cursor key 8 e. Thisrequires an increased number of operations of the cursor key 8 ecompared with the item selection through all the recording menus withthe long time operation.

When the user moves the menu change-over switch 12 to the X positionwhile the camera is in the recording mode and depresses the menu button8 d, the monitor 4 a displays a recording menu selection screen in thesimple menu mode shown in FIG. 5. Recording menu selection items in thesimple menu mode in the present embodiment includes items included inthe recording menu selection items in the above-described normal menumode or created on the basis of items of the normal menu mode. Thesimple mode has extremely few selectable items compared with the normalmenu mode. In the present embodiment, only a “resolution” menu, “focus”menu and “flash” menu are selectable. The simple menu mode is providedfor setting minimum recording menus for the user. This can extremelyshorten the time needed to set recording menus compared withselection/setting of the great many items in the normal menu mode.

FIGS. 5( a), (e), and (h) show screens displayed on the monitor 4 a whenthe menu button 8 d is depressed. Operating the cursor key 8 e upward ordownward selects one item from the “resolution” menu, “focus” menu and“flash” menu. This displays a character string describing each menufunction.

Here described is the case where the user wishes to change or set theresolution in taking moving images. At first, the cursor key 8 e isoperated to thereby select an item indicating the “resolution” menu asshown in FIG. 5( a). A setting operation displays three resolution modesas shown in FIG. 5( b). These three resolution modes are “high visionsize/3.5 megapixels”, “TV size/4 megapixels” and “WEB size/0.3megapixels”. The selectable modes of the resolution item are prepared toprovide three main modes each having two items of both “MOVIE” and“PHOTO” in the normal menu. “High vision size/3.5 megapixels” is theFULL-HD mode for moving images, and the 3.5M mode for still images, inwhich the aspect ratio is 16:9 and the file size is 3.5 MB, and has aresolution suitable for high visions. “TV size/4 megapixels” is theTV-SHQ mode for moving images, and the 4M-S mode for still images, inwhich the aspect ratio is 4:3 and the file size is 4 MB, and has aresolution suitable for the screen size of common TVs. “WEB size/0.3megapixels” is the web-SHQ mode for moving images, the 0.3M mode forstill images, and suitable for the image size used mainly in blogs. Asdescribed, the resolution items in the simple menu mode are eachprovided by combining two kinds of items of the normal menu mode. Thatis, main modes are prepared preferable for recording suitable for eachof the three types of high vision, TV, and Web. There is no need toprepare two kinds of items for each of moving image taking and stillimage shooting. This allows recording conditioning for moving imagetaking or still image shooting corresponding to each of the three typesof recording to be extremely easily performed by selecting one from the“resolution” menu of the simple menu mode.

In the menu display in the resolution items, when a set operation bydepressing the cursor key 8 e is performed, for example, in the state ofFIG. 5( b), the mode of “high vision size/3.5 megapixels” is selected.Then, a character string indicating the resolution recommended to theuser “To keep in HDTV size” is displayed on the screen in its upperportion. When the cursor key 8 e is operated rightward from the state ofFIG. 5( b) to move the cursor to the state shown in FIG. 5( c), and thena set operation of the cursor key 8 e is performed, the mode of “TVsize/4 megapixels” is selected and a character string “To enjoy on TV”is displayed. When the cursor key 8 e is operated rightward from thestate of FIG. 5( c) to move the cursor to the state shown in FIG. 5( d),and then a set operation is performed, the mode of “WEB size/0.3megapixels” is selected and a character string “To use in blog” isdisplayed.

In this way, the cursor key 8 e is operated to thereby select/determinea mode for the resolution, and the selected/determined resolution isset. When the moving image recording start button 8 b is depressed, amoving image recording process is started with the set resolution. Whenthe still image recording button 8 c is depressed, a still imagerecording process is executed with the set resolution.

When the “focus” menu is to be changed and set, the cursor key 8 e isoperated downward from the state of FIG. 5( a) to move the cursor to theicon in the middle as shown in FIG. 5( e), and a set operation isperformed. Then, as shown in FIG. 5( f), two focus modes are displayed.These focus modes are provided by simplifying the items of “FOCUS” inthe normal menu, and consist of two modes of “normal shooting” suitablefor general shooting and “macro shooting”. A set operation is performedin the state shown in FIG. 5( f) to select the normal shooting and setthe parameters so that focus control suitable for general shooting ofpeople or landscape is made. The cursor key 8 e is operated rightwardfrom the state of FIG. 5( f) to move the cursor, which results in thedisplay shown in FIG. 5( g). A set operation is performed in this stateto select the macro shooting and set the parameters so that focuscontrol suitable for macro shooting is made. In mode setting, a guidancedescribing each mode is displayed as in the case of the resolution.

When the “flash” menu is to be changed and set, the cursor key 8 e isoperated downward from the state of FIG. 5( e) to move the cursor to thebottom icon as shown in FIG. 5( h). A set operation is performed in thisstate to select the flash menu and display three strobe control modes asshown in FIG. 5( i). This flash menu is the same as the items of “FLASH”of the normal menu mode, and one mode can be selected from the threemodes. When a set operation is performed in the state shown in FIG. 5(i), the auto flash mode is selected, so that flash/no flash iscontrolled according to the brightness at the time of shooting, and thelight volume then is also adequately controlled. When the cursor key 8 eis operated rightward from the state of FIG. 5( i), the cursor shifts tothe state shown in FIG. 5( j). When a set operation is performed in thisstate, the flash ON mode is selected and the parameters are set so thatthe strobe flash 60 operates regardless of the conditions. Similarly,when the cursor key 8 e is operated further rightward from the state ofFIG. 5( j) to move the cursor as shown in FIG. 5( k), and then a settingoperation is performed, the flash OFF mode is selected and theparameters are set so that the strobe flash does not operate regardlessof the conditions. In mode setting, a guidance describing each mode isdisplayed as in the case of the resolution.

In this way, the user can set the menu easily and quickly by displayingcharacter strings and items easy to understand intuitively for the user,and reducing the number of selection items to simplify the setting toonly the conditioning in main recording patterns. This allows a quickrecording operation under desired recording conditions.

When the user moves the menu change-over switch 12 to the Y positionwhile the camera is in the playback mode and depresses the menu button 8d, the monitor 4 a displays a playback menu selection screen in thenormal menu mode shown in FIG. 4. Playback menu selection items in thenormal menu mode are selection items usually prepared in recentelectronic cameras.

Since many items are prepared in the playback menu in the normal menumode, it is difficult for the one screen of the monitor 4 a to displayall those items at once. Accordingly, two screens of playback menus (1)and (2) can be separately displayed, so that the user can select eitherplayback menu (1) or playback menu (2) by operating the cursor key 8 eleftward/rightward and performing a set operation. Such selection itemsare hierarchically displayed.

Playback menus (1) and (2) are described below in detail. Playback menu(1) has six items prepared: “SLIDESHOW”, “PLAYBACK VOLUME”, “PROTECT”,“DELETE”, “PRINT INSTRUCTIONS”, and “ROTATE”.

In the item of “SLIDESHOW”, files to be played back are selected fromall the files, moving image files, and still image files. The transitiontime is selected from one second, two seconds, three seconds, fiveseconds, and ten seconds. A transition special effect such as sliding inthe next image or the next image appearing from a checkerboard pattern,for example, is selected from a plurality of prepared patterns. Further,whether BGM is to be played or not, and an audio file to be played back,are selected. Set data for these four parameters can be selected andinput. Selecting “start” begins slideshow in accordance with the setdata.

The item of “PLAYBACK VOLUME” is to slide the playback volume byselecting one of ten stages, for example. The item of “PROTECT” is tochoose whether the currently displayed image is to be locked orunlocked. “DELETE” is to choose whether the displayed playback image isto be deleted, or all the unlocked images are to be deleted. The item of“PRINT INSTRUCTIONS” is to specify the number of prints and the like forcertain image files or all the image files recorded on the memory card.“ROTATE” is to choose rotating the displayed playback image clockwise orcounterclockwise 90 degrees. Playback menu (2) has a screen, notillustrated, in which three menu items, “RESIZE”, “EXTRACT STILL”, and“EDIT VIDEO”, are prepared. The item of “RESIZE” is to select frompredetermined sizes a file size of the playback image file currentlydisplayed and whose size is to be changed. The item of “EXTRACT STILL”is to extract a still image file from a moving image file. The item of“EDIT VIDEO” is to cut a portion of a moving image file recorded on thememory card 28 or join a plurality of moving image files together byselecting the moving image file, specifying the cut portion, andselecting the joining position.

Next described is how to set the items associated with playback in thenormal menu mode. As shown in FIG. 4( a), playback menu (1) is displayedon the monitor 4 a by operating the menu button 8 d with the monitor 4 adisplaying a playback image in the playback mode. When there is an itemthat the user desires to set or change in playback menu (1), this ispossible by operating the cursor key 8 e upward or downward for a shorttime. That is, the user simply operates the cursor key 8 e downward fora short time and immediately returns it to the neutral position. Thiscauses the cursor to move down sequentially by only one item in playbackmenu (1). When this operation is repeated and the cursor reaches thebottom item of playback menu (1), the cursor moves to the top item ofplayback menu (1). As long as the short time operation is repeated, thecursor will circulate through the six items of playback menu 1. When thecursor is in the position of “SLIDESHOW” on playback menu (1) as shownin FIG. 4( a) and a set operation of the cursor key 8 e is performed, amenu appears for setting various parameters necessary for the item of“SLIDESHOW” as shown in FIG. 4( b). When the user operates the cursorkey 8 e upward in this state to move the cursor to “PLAYBACK FILE” asshown in FIG. 4( c) and perform a set operation, the cursor moves to theplayback file setting position as shown in FIG. 4( d). Each time thecursor key 8 e is operated downward in this state, the file type forslideshow can be set from ALL→PHOTO→MOVIE as shown in FIG. 4( f) andFIG. 4( h). When this setting is completed, the menu button 8 d isdepressed to return the screen to the state of FIG. 4( c). Further, theuser operates the cursor key 8 e downward to select the transition time,transition effect, and BGM as shown in FIGS. 4( e) and (g). Each settingdata can thus be set.

When there is not a desired item in playback menu (1) and the userwishes to select the desired item from the other playback menu in thenormal menu mode, the user switches to playback menu (2) as follows.With playback menu (1) shown in FIG. 4( a) being displayed, the usercontinues the long time operation instead of the short time operation.While this is continued, the cursor sequentially moves down by one itemthrough the displayed items of playback menu (1). When the cursorreaches the bottom item of playback menu (1), i.e. “ROTATE”, the screenmoves to playback menu (2) and the cursor moves to “RESIZE”, which isthe top item of playback menu (2), and then moves down from there by oneitem. When the long time operation is further continued, the cursorreaches the bottom item of playback menu (2), i.e. “EDIT VIDEO”. Theuser stops the downward operation of the cursor key 8 e when the cursorreaches a desired item among the items of playback menus (1) to (2). Inthis way, the user can quickly reach a desired item. If the long timeoperation is continued even when the cursor reaches the bottom item ofplayback menu (2), then the cursor moves to option menu (1), as in therecording menu, located under playback menu (2). Similarly, the cursormoves from the top item by one item. After passing through option menu(1), the cursor moves to option menu (2). When the long push is furthercontinued, the cursor moves to option menu (3). If the long timeoperation is continued even when the cursor reaches the bottom item ofoption menu (3), then the cursor returns to playback menu (1) andsequentially moves down from “SLIDESHOW”. In FIG. 4, B1 and B2 are tabsof playback menus (1) and (2). As in the recording menu, these tabs canbe selected to thereby select the menu.

When the user moves the menu change-over switch 12 to the X position toset the simple menu mode during file playback shown in FIG. 6( a), andthereafter depresses the menu button 8 d, the monitor 4 a displays iconrepresentations of three playback menu items, slideshow, playback volumeand delete, as shown in FIG. 6( b), (e), and (g). When the cursor key 8e is operated rightward or leftward to thereby move the cursor, acharacter string is displayed describing the currently selected item.For example, when a set operation with the cursor key 8 e is performedwith the cursor being in the item indicating slideshow as shown in FIG.6( b), the modes of “ALL”, “MOVIE” and “PHOTO”, which are items forselecting the type of file for the slideshow, are displayed as shown inFIG. 6( c). When the mode of “ALL” is selected here, for example, and aset operation is performed, all the files recorded on the memory card 28are displayed in a slideshow format as shown in FIG. 6( d). When thecursor key 8 e is operated downward from “ALL” to move the cursor to“MOVIE” and then a set operation is performed, a slideshow of movingimage files is played. When the cursor is moved to “PHOTO” and then aset operation is performed, a slideshow of still image files is played.

In the case of changing or setting the playback volume, the cursor ismoved to the item of playback volume as shown in FIG. 6( e), and then aset operation is performed. The user sets the playback volume to adesired volume as shown in FIG. 6( f) by operating the cursor key 8 erightward and leftward, and performs a set operation to set the volume.

In the case of deleting images, when the cursor is moved to the item ofdelete as shown in FIG. 6( g) and a set operation is performed, “DELETESINGLE” for deleting one file and “DELETE ALL” for deleting all filesare displayed as shown in FIG. 6( h). For example, when the cursor key 8e is operated to move the cursor to “DELETE ONE” and a set operation isperformed, the file currently played back is deleted. When the cursor ismoved to “DELETE ALL” and thereafter a set operation is performed, allthe files recorded on the memory card 28 are deleted.

Next, a menu setting processing to execute the above-described processesat the CPU 22 is described in detail using FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 11to FIG. 16. At first, with reference to FIG. 7, the recording menusetting process in the recording mode is described.

When the recording/playback mode switch 8 a is moved to the P position,the CPU 22 proceeds to step S1 to determine whether the menu change-overswitch 12 is in the X position or is in the Y position. When it isdetermined here that the menu change-over switch 12 is in the Yposition, the process proceeds to step S3 to determine whether the menubutton 8 d is depressed or not. Step S1 and step S3 repeat until it isdetermined that the menu button is depressed. When it is determined thatthe menu button is depressed (YES), the process proceeds to step S5. Instep S5, the recording menu setting process in the normal menu mode isexecuted. When this setting process ends, the process returns to stepS1.

When it is determined in step S1 that the menu change-over switch 12 isin the X position, the process proceeds to step S7 to determine whetherthe menu button 8 d is depressed or not. Step S1 and step S7 repeatuntil it is determined that the menu button is depressed. When it isdetermined that the menu button is depressed (YES), the process proceedsto step S9. In step S9, the simple menu mode screen shown in FIG. 5( a)is displayed on the monitor 4 a. Next comes step S11 to determine whichitem is selected/set from the three recording menu items, which are theresolution menu, focus menu and flash menu.

When it is determined in step S11 that the resolution menu isselected/set, the process proceeds to step S13 of FIG. 8 to display onthe monitor 4 a the three resolution modes as shown in FIG. 5( b), whichare the modes of high vision size/3.5 megapixels, TV size/4 megapixelsand WEB size/0.3 megapixels. The process then proceeds to step S15. Instep S15, it is determined which mode is selected/set from the threeresolution modes.

When it is determined in step S15 that the high vision size/3.5megapixels is selected/set, the process proceeds to step S17 to set theresolution to the high vision size/3.5 megapixels. When it is determinedthat the TV size/4 megapixels is selected/set, the process proceeds tostep S19 to set the resolution to the TV size/4 megapixels. Similarly,when it is determined that the WEB size/0.3 megapixels is selected/set,the process proceeds to step S21 to set the resolution to the WEBsize/0.3 megapixels. When the setting process execution is finished instep S17, step S19, or step S21, the process returns to step S1.

When it is determined in step S11 that the focus menu is selected/set,the process proceeds to step S22 of FIG. 11 to display on the monitor 4a the two modes in the item of focus as shown in FIG. 5( f), which arethe modes for normal shooting and macro shooting.

Next comes step S23 to determine which mode of the focus item isselected/set. When it is determined in step S23 that the normal shootingmode is selected/set, the process proceeds to step S25 to set the focussetting to the normal shooting focus mode. Alternatively, when it isdetermined in step S23 that the macro focus mode is selected/set, theprocess proceeds to step S27 to set the focus setting to the macro focusmode. When the setting process execution is finished in step S25 or stepS27, the process returns to step S1.

When it is determined in step S11 that the flash menu is selected/set,the process proceeds to step S29 of FIG. 12 to display the three flashmodes as shown in FIG. 5( i), which are the auto flash mode, alwaysflash ON mode, and always flash OFF mode. Next comes step S31 todetermine which mode is selected/set from the three flash modes. When itis determined in step S31 that the auto flash mode is selected/set, theprocess proceeds to step S33 to set the flash to the auto flash mode.When it is determined in step S31 that the always flash ON mode isselected/set, the process proceeds to step S35 to set the flash to thealways flash ON mode. Alternatively, when it is determined in step S31that the always flash OFF mode is selected/set, the process proceeds tostep S37 to set the flash to the always flash OFF mode. When the settingprocess execution is finished in step S33, step S35 or step S37, theprocess returns to step S1.

Next, with reference to FIG. 13 to FIG. 16, the playback menu settingprocess in the playback mode is described. When the recording/playbackmode switch 8 a is moved to the Q position, the CPU 22 causes themonitor 4 a to display the playback image shown in FIG. 6( a) in stepS50. Next comes step S51 to determine whether the menu change-overswitch 12 is in the X position or is in the Y position. When it isdetermined here that the menu change-over switch 12 is in the Yposition, the process proceeds to step S53 to determine whether the menubutton 8 d is depressed or not. Step S51 and step S53 repeat until it isdetermined that the menu button is depressed. When it is determined thatthe menu button is depressed (YES), the process proceeds to step S55. Instep S55, the playback menu setting process in the normal menu mode isexecuted. When this setting process ends, the process returns to stepS50.

When it is determined in step S51 that the menu change-over switch 12 isin the X position, the process proceeds to step S57 to determine whetherthe menu button 8 d is depressed or not. Step S51 and step S57 repeatuntil it is determined that the menu button is depressed. When it isdetermined that the menu button is depressed (YES), the process proceedsto step S59. In step S59, the simple menu mode screen shown in FIG. 6(b) is displayed on the monitor 4 a. Next comes step S61 to determinewhich item is selected/set from the three playback menu items, which arethe slideshow menu, playback volume menu and delete menu.

When it is determined in step S61 that the item of slideshow isselected/set, the process proceeds to step S63 of FIG. 14 to display onthe monitor 4 a the three slideshow modes as shown in FIG. 6( c), whichare “ALL”, “MOVIE” and “PHOTO”. The process then proceeds to step S65.In step S65, it is determined which mode is selected/set from the threeslideshow modes.

When it is determined in step S65 that “ALL” is selected/set, theprocess proceeds to step S67 to play back and display all the files onthe monitor 4 a in a slideshow format. When it is determined in step S65that “MOVIE” is selected/set, the process proceeds to step S69 to playback and display all the movie files on the monitor 4 a in a slideshowformat. Alternatively, when it is determined in step S65 that “PHOTO” isselected/set, the process proceeds to step S71 to play back and displayall the still image files on the monitor 4 a in a slideshow format. Whenthe slideshow is finished or stopped in step S67, step S69 or step S71,the process returns to step S50.

When it is determined in step S61 that the item of playback volume isselected/set, the process proceeds to step S73 of FIG. 15 to display onthe monitor 4 a a bar indicating how much the current playback volume isas shown in FIG. 6( f). Next comes step S75 to set the playback volumein accordance with the operation of the cursor key 8 e. The process thenreturns to step S50.

When it is determined in step S61 that the item of delete isselected/set, the process proceeds to step S77 of FIG. 16 to display onthe monitor 4 a the two kinds of delete modes as shown in FIG. 6( h),which are the mode names of “DELETE SINGLE” and “DELETE ALL”. Theprocess then proceeds to step S79.

In step S79, it is determined which mode is selected/set from the twodelete modes. When it is determined in step S79 that the mode of “DELETESINGLE” is selected/set, the process proceeds to step S81 to delete thefile played back and displayed in step S50. When it is determined instep S79 that the mode of “DELETE ALL” is selected/set, the processproceeds to step S83 to delete all the files recorded on the memory card28. When the delete process is finished in step S81 or step S83, theprocess returns to step S50. It is noted that after all the files aredeleted in step S83, no image is displayed in the playback image displayprocess in step S50.

As described, with the electronic camera 10 of the present embodiment,the menu display on the monitor is switched by the menu change-overswitch 12 near the monitor 4 a between the items in the normal menusetting and the items in the simple menu setting, which are fewer thanthose of the normal menu setting and easy to intuitively understand. Theuser can thus certainly and extremely easily set recording conditions orplayback conditions in conformity with the use condition while viewingthe display on the monitor 4 a.

In addition, the monitor 4 a and menu change-over switch 12 are notexposed when the finder unit 4 is returned from the state of FIG. 1 (c)to the closed state of FIG. 1( a). Since the menu change-over switch 12is provided inherently in order to be used only for switching thedisplay menu on the monitor 4 a, the operation of the menu change-overswitch 12 is prevented in the closed state of the finder unit 4, whereit is not necessary to use the monitor 4 a. Unnecessary operations ofthe switch 12 are thus prevented, and also the camera presents a neatappearance in that unnecessary parts are not exposed.

In the above embodiment, switching between the normal menu mode andsimple menu mode with the menu change-over switch 12 is described asperformed from the state in which the monitor 4 a displays a taken imageor playback image. However, this is not the only case. For example, thescreen can be directly shifted to the simple menu mode from a menudisplay in the normal menu mode by operating the menu change-over switch12.

In the above embodiment, the cursor key 8 e is operated in fourdirections, and depressed for setting in the neutral position. However,a separate set button can of course be provided for a set function.

1. An information display device comprising: a monitor; a menu switcherfor switching between a first menu mode in which a first group of itemsis displayed in a menu on the monitor, and one of certain firstcandidates of data can be selected as first control data for each of theitems, and a second menu mode in which a second group consisting offewer items than the first group is displayed in a menu on the monitor,and one of certain second candidates of data can be selected as secondcontrol data for each of the items; a controller for controlling theoperation of the device on the basis of the first control data or secondcontrol data, wherein the second group of items includes an item havinga second candidate of data that is a combination of first candidates ofdata for a plurality of particular items of the first group; and animager for taking a still image of a subject in response to imaginginstructions in a still image taking mode, and for taking a moving imageof a subject in response to imaging instructions in a moving imagetaking mode, wherein the first group of items includes a group of movingimage items associated with recording conditions for the moving imageand a group of still image items associated with recording conditionsfor the still image, wherein the second candidate of data is the datathat is a combination of each first candidate of data selected from thegroup of moving image items and from the group of still image items. 2.The information display device according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of particular items include an item associated with theresolution included in the group of moving image items and an itemassociated with the aspect ratio included in the group of still imageitems.